| | | | |  | | By Lisa Kashinsky | | | KEEP — To-go cocktails, remote public meetings and expanded outdoor dining. TOSS — Eviction protections. Gov. Maura Healey is extending several pandemic-era policies that lawmakers packed into the $389 million supplemental spending plan she signed off on yesterday. Healey secured $130 million to extend extra federal SNAP benefits at a reduced rate. Lawmakers added provisions to keep expedited permitting for outdoor dining and to-go cocktail, beer and wine sales going through spring 2024, and to allow remote public meetings through spring 2025. And they did it with almost no time to spare — some of these provisions were due to run out by the end of the week. Yet top Democrats aren’t rushing to stop eviction protections from expiring. A policy called “Chapter 257" that pauses eviction cases while tenants have a pending application for rental aid — such as through the state’s Residential Assistance for Families in Transition program — lapses on Friday. Housing advocates have been lobbying Beacon Hill leaders to continue the program for another year, calling it an “essential protection” as evictions rise and a “key homelessness prevention tool" as the state tries to confront its housing crisis. Attorney General Andrea Campbell has also pressed top lawmakers for an extension of the “commonsense protection.” But with federal pandemic aid ramping down, the governor and the Legislature have some tough decisions to make about what programs to keep alive. And unlike SNAP benefits and universal free school meals — which the supp funds through the end of the school year — this is one area where Healey doesn’t seem to be putting up a fight. “The federal public health emergency is ending, and as a result the programs and initiatives that we put in place as a state to take care of people in vulnerable times in vulnerable circumstances are also ending,” Healey told reporters earlier this week. Healey pointed to the continued rental assistance she included in her budget proposal, which would extend RAFT but would lower its cap to $7,000 every two years. The spending plan she just signed also includes $15.7 million for RAFT. Still, advocates are bracing for Friday — and hoping that even if lawmakers let the eviction policy lapse, they could revive it down the line. There’s precedent for that. Lawmakers let weeks go by after extra federal SNAP benefits ended before sending the bill to Healey's desk that would extend them. GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Happy Red Sox Opening Day! Bundle up if you're going to Fenway. TODAY — Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll attends the Massachusetts Dinner at the Discover New England Tourism Summit & International Marketplace at 6:30 p.m. at the Hynes Ballroom. House Speaker Ron Mariano addresses the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce at 10 a.m. at the Colonnade Hotel in Boston. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu celebrates the expansion of the city’s tuition-free community college program at 10:30 a.m. at MassArt. Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Sen. Ed Markey reintroduce their Fossil Free Finance Act at 12:30 p.m. at the U.S. Capitol. Pressley and House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark introduce the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2023 at 12:45 p.m. at the Capitol. Tips? Scoops? Birthdays? Email me: lkashinsky@politico.com.
| | A message from NextEra Energy: Seabrook Station nuclear power plant generates safe, clean, emissions-free energy that has helped power New England for decades. A long-term power purchase agreement with Seabrook would help Massachusetts meet climate emissions goals and lower energy bills at a substantial value to consumers. An agreement that locks in prices over several decades would – even estimated against fluctuating natural gas prices – lower electricity bills, saving Massachusetts’ consumers between $890 million to $2.62 billion on energy costs over a 10-year period. | | | |  | DATELINE BEACON HILL | | — ALSO IN THE SUPP: The spending plan Gov. Maura Healey signed off on includes $85 million to bolster the state’s emergency shelter program, $68 million for so-called C3 grants for child care providers and $2 million to support the NAACP conference being held in Boston later this year. It also has $1 million for a public awareness campaign about deceptive practices at so-called crisis pregnancy centers, and $250,000 to support the “Abortion Legal Hotline” that provides free and confidential legal advice to patients seeking reproductive care in the state. — “As COVID emergency nears end, key state agencies continue to meet virtually,” by Chris Van Buskirk, MassLive: “Some advocates say it is time for government meetings to shift to a permanent hybrid format that retains the success of offering virtual participation while making public officials available to residents who want to interact with them face-to-face.” — “Details ‘In The Air’ But House Committed To Gun Bill,” by Sam Drysdale, State House News Service (paywall): “[Senate Majority Leader Cynthia] Creem said the Legislature will focus on ghost guns, reducing violence through a public health lens by investing in community programs, and making Massachusetts a leader in the collection and analysis of gun data and research.” — “Hello, governor? State House main line finally updated tonight,” by Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald: “Until just before 8 p.m. Wednesday, if you were looking for the governor, you had to settle for a ‘forester.’ The main phone line to the Corner Office, 617-725-4000, declared: ‘You have reached the office of Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito.’” — "State allowing more time for some to resolve jobless benefit overpayment claims, while beginning clawbacks for others," by Shirley Leung, Boston Globe. — “Massachusetts State Police union pushes new bill for ‘equal pay for equal work’ for troopers,” by Flint McColgan, Boston Herald. — “Healey, lawmakers wrangle over pothole money,” by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune.
| | | | JOIN POLITICO ON 4/5 FOR THE 2023 RECAST POWER LIST: America’s demographics and power dynamics are changing — and POLITICO is recasting how it covers the intersection of race, identity, politics and policy. Join us for a conversation on the themes of the 2023 Recast Power List that will examine America’s decision-making tables, who gets to sit at them, and the challenges that still need to be addressed. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES | | — “Top MBTA executive, who often worked from Hawaii and other distant locales, is terminated,” by Andrea Estes, Matt Stout and Taylor Dolven, Boston Globe: “James ‘Jay’ Neider has had one of the most important jobs in Boston since 2019: overseeing major construction on the increasingly rickety MBTA system, from track repair projects to new train cars to expansions of the mass transit network. But Neider often wasn’t even in the state, let alone at MBTA construction sites over the last two years, people briefed on his situation said. … On Friday, Neider was dismissed from his $275,000-a-year job, according to several people briefed on the matter.” — "Feds inspect Springfield factory as part of probe into MBTA’s Chinese contractor," by Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald. — “WRTA committee recommends extending free bus service another year in Worcester area,” by Kiernan Dunlop, MassLive.
| | WARREN REPORT | | — NOTHING TO SEE HERE: Sen. Elizabeth Warren says things are “all good” with Kamala Harris, after she reportedly offended the VP and her team by flubbing her response to a question in a January GBH interview about whether President Joe Biden should keep Harris on the ticket for 2024. Warren cleared the air in another GBH interview, in which she said she and Harris had dinner a few weeks ago with a bipartisan group of female senators. Boston.com’s Christopher Gavin has more.
| | | | A message from NextEra Energy:   | | | | | FROM THE DELEGATION | | — “New Hampshire’s Dem senators bet their party clout on divisive judicial pick,” by Marianne LeVine and Burgess Everett, POLITICO: “New Hampshire’s two Democratic senators are lobbying with uncharacteristic zeal on a topic that’s dividing their caucus — confirming a judicial nominee under scrutiny for his handling of a sexual assault case at a prestigious boarding school. … Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said she’ll ‘review the full record if he’s voted out of committee.’ And Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) said he hasn’t begun considering the nomination.” — “Lawmakers call on feds to drop face recognition technologies,” by Yawu Miller, Bay State Banner.
| | IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN | | — “4 lawsuits threaten Vineyard Wind,” by Benjamin Storrow, E&E News: “Four cases are challenging the federal environmental permit issued to Vineyard Wind, a 62-turbine facility being planned for construction in the waters off Martha’s Vineyard. A federal judge in Massachusetts heard arguments brought by landowners in two cases in recent weeks. The other two suits, brought by fishing groups, have been consolidated and will appear before the same judge for oral arguments in Boston on Monday.”
| | FROM THE 413 | | — “Comerford, Domb weigh in against UMass move to privatize union jobs,” by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Amherst’s legislative delegation at the State House is offering support to unions at the University of Massachusetts fighting a reorganization plan in which about 100 employees who work in Advancement Services would be moved to the private UMass Amherst Foundation.” — “Here's why climate change may bring heavier snowstorms to the Berkshires like that nor'easter we just had,” by Greta Jochem, Berkshire Eagle.
| | | | GO INSIDE THE 2023 MILKEN INSTITUTE GLOBAL CONFERENCE: POLITICO is proud to partner with the Milken Institute to produce a special edition "Global Insider" newsletter featuring exclusive coverage, insider nuggets and unparalleled insights from the 2023 Global Conference, which will convene leaders in health, finance, politics, philanthropy and entertainment from April 30-May 3. This year’s theme, Advancing a Thriving World, will challenge and inspire attendees to lean into building an optimistic coalition capable of tackling the issues and inequities we collectively face. Don’t miss a thing — subscribe today for a front row seat. | | | | | | | THE LOCAL ANGLE | | — “State renews charter of Malden school often found at center of controversy,” by Adria Watson, Boston Globe: “Critics for years have alleged the school culture at Mystic Valley Regional is racist, intolerant, and harmful to students, and among the 18 charters that were up for renewal, it was the only one that drew opposition against it. But Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley’s recent decision to renew the charter for another five years came without fanfare; he simply notified the state education board this week of his decision.” — “Riley drops 3 community members from Lawrence school receiver board,” by Jill Harmacinski, Eagle-Tribune: “State Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley announced a shake-up Tuesday of the local receiver board that has been overseeing Lawrence Public Schools due to underperformance. … ‘This is not a democracy. This is [a] transparent attempt by the Commissioner to quiet critics of the failed state receivership by appearing to return control of the schools to the people of Lawrence,’ said Kimberly Barry, president of the Lawrence Teachers Union, on Tuesday afternoon.” — “'A huge injustice': Worcester denies several small nonprofits ARPA funding,” by Sam Turken, GBH News: “Nonprofit leaders and local activists in Worcester say the city’s process for awarding federal COVID-19 relief funding to community groups has been inequitable, arguing that a significant chunk of the money is going to large organizations that already have sufficient support.” — IN MEMORIAM: “Newburyport loses legendary Mayor Byron Matthews,” by Jim Sullivan, Daily News of Newburyport.
| | MEANWHILE IN RHODE ISLAND | | — “R.I. sets dates for First Congressional District special election,” by Edward Fitzpatrick, Boston Globe: “The primary for the First Congressional District seat will take place on Sept. 5 and the general election will be held on Nov. 7, Governor Daniel J. McKee announced Wednesday.”
| | A message from NextEra Energy: Continued operation of the Seabrook Station nuclear power plant reduces electricity costs and boosts the state’s economy. A long-term power purchase agreement with Seabrook would contribute approximately $3 billion to the Massachusetts economy through utility bill savings, reduced energy costs and job creation/support. Seabrook has generated safe, reliable, low-cost, and emissions-free energy for more than 30 years. Seabrook’s operation will continue to provide baseload energy, with price stability, while Massachusetts scales up its renewable energy sources. Operating Seabrook would avoid nearly 50 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions over a 10-year period and contribute to Massachusetts meeting its clean air goals. A long-term PPA will help Massachusetts meet its clean energy standard. Nuclear energy is carbon emissions-free and Massachusetts’ most cost-effective tool to combat climate change. The procurement of additional energy from Seabrook going forward would help the Massachusetts affordably and reliably meet its clean energy needs. | | | | | HEARD ‘ROUND THE BUBBLAH | | SPOTTED — Geoff Diehl at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, D.C., per a Playbook tipster. ALSO SPOTTED — at the packed Communities of Color celebration in Boston last night: Gov. Maura Healey, who talked about her transportation and equity goals; Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Auditor Diana DiZoglio, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, state Reps. Russell Holmes, Christopher Worrell, Samantha Montaño and Brandy Fluker-Oakley; state Sen. Liz Miranda, Boston City Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune, state Veterans Secretary Jon Santiago and Transportation Secretary Gina Fiandaca. TRANSITIONS — John M. Stephan has joined Hemenway and Barnes LLP as counsel and co-chair of the government and election law practice. He previously was general counsel of the Executive Office for Administration and Finance. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Anna Duffy, Dusty Christensen, Bill Ryan and Mark Daley. NEW HORSE RACE ALERT: THE NEW SECRETARIAT — State House News Service reporter Sam Drysdale joins hosts Steve Koczela and Lisa Kashinsky to discuss how Gov. Maura Healey's plan for a standalone housing secretariat is being received by lawmakers. Koczela and Kashinsky chat about Sen. Elizabeth Warren's reelection bid. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud. Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com. | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our politics and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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